Pietersen makes early exit

Kevin Pietersen’s attempt to impress the England selectors ended in failure in Cardiff on Sunday afternoon.

In the same Swalec Stadium arena where Pietersen hopes to be batting against Australia in the first Ashes Test this summer, the Surrey batsman fell for 19 after appearing to be ready to build on the 170 he made against the Oxford students last week.

Pietersen was making his first LV= County Championship appearance since June 2013 in the hope of finding a way back into the England set-up.

The 34-year-old came to the wicket just after lunch with Surrey well placed on 111 for two and he was soon into his stride with two boundaries – one through the legside and the other a fine cover drive – in the same Andy Carter over.

Pietersen was fortunate to escape with a mistimed hook off Graham Wagg, which just beat the fine-leg fielder, but he picked up the fourth boundary of his innings when he drove the ball over the head of left-arm spinner Dean Cosker.

However, Pietersen’s 28-ball stay ended when he pushed hard at Craig Meschede’s medium pace and edged to Colin Ingram at first slip with Surrey reduced to 150 for three.